Nice one!
If there is so much profit in pro tournaments how come there are so many 1st annuals that are never heard from again?
If the product is so profitable why don't the players just do it all themselves? I dont pay graphic artists or video editors. I learned to do it myself so I can keep that money. My stuff isnt perfect but it allows me to function. ABP would just have to do basically the same thing only with creating and promoting events. Then outside promoters if they wanted to have pro players would have to meet or beat what they make on their own.
Also most events I have seen the players, especially the top guys get treated pretty damn good. People do what they can to help them out. Its not like they are kept in a basement and trotted out to perform then thrown back in chains. The people putting these events on, for the most part, really like pro pool and the players. The problem almost always is people over reach trying to do too much.
I'm in total agreement with you that one of the largest problems in the business is promoters and sponsors biting off way more than they can chew with high expectations and big dreams getting in the way of proper business sense and turning the results into a very painful situation for both sides of the fence.
I honestly believe Mr. Behrman has always had the best intentions, but his repetitive slow pays aren't acceptable in any way. Whatever financial adjustments he has to make to manage the expenses of the event and achieve the ability to pay the competitors immediately must be accomplished if a U.S. Open is to continue at all.
As far as profitability within the tournament world? Don't we all wish that was the case. The marketing plans of the typical railbird is that pool can be sold to the general public and that there is plenty of money to be made off of it, but the proven fact is that without substantial corporate money being dedicated to the sport it will never be profitable financially. The target market just isn't present and it's a pipe dream of selling pool to the masses like you do a pair of Nikes! The current viewer base is all there is. It's just not feasable that a 30 yr old channel surfin' couple, who aren't actively involved in the game, will stop on ESPN to watch any of the games we love regardless of what's being played or by what rules. The women will always be more successful in creating a slight margin of new customers due to the fact that they are a more attractive product physically and they conduct themselves in a professional manner in the public eye. People need to quit trying to "clean up" the game to suit the imaginary target audience cause it just isn't there. Embrace the game for what it is and seek sponsorship from within the industry or products that those who participate in the game actually use, i.e. cigarettes (LOL), beer, whiskey, trendy clothing companies, etc... Sorry, but I gotta say it...what the hell does Ashley furniture have to do with pool? Jussayin'! I'm sure the guys at Galveston appreciated the sponsorship, but were both parties actually satisfied in their objectives? I don't know for a fact, but I'm wondering.
I also agree with you that as a majority the players are treated with much respect at events. I'm not saying that there is some jerk kickin' them around and saying "dance monkey dance", but as with anything the more hands you have in the cookie jar the more crumbs get on the ground. Everyone is fighting to get their "share" of money, but the end result always seems to be the actual players getting the short end of the stick and haven't they earned the right to be paid like what they are, the best cue wielding entertainers on the planet? I think so.
All I know is that a ripple of change is trying to create itself and I hope that it makes it through the storms and improvement can be acomplished for all parties. We all WANT the same thing, but the path isn't all that well lit because it hasn't been realized yet. I'd love to see the financials on the Guiness Tour actively kickin' it over in Asia. Maybe someone will quit being stubborn and ask those who are making it happen for some advice. Learning is hard, but knowledge is the key to any business venture isn't it?
By the way, thanks for all you do personally for this game man! I remember watching your first stream at the DCC and just wanting to slap all the railbirds upside the head when they started talkin' trash about how Brian Jones had no chance of giving Billy Incardona weight at one-pocket...yeah, Brian got the dough and eyes were opened as is always the case. I wasn't about to jump in and knock his action though...oops, I just did didn't I. Just thought it was entertaining. Anyway, thanks and best of luck in all you do. We'll all be watching and appreciating from afar...
